ABERDEEN will find out on Monday if they are to be granted a work permit for loan signing Nikola Vujadinovic.
The Dons have agreed a deal with Italian Serie A club Udinese until June 30, 2011, and submitted the papers to the SFA for registration before the transfer deadline on Tuesday. But the 24-year-old does not meet criteria for employment in the UK.
The Serbia-born Montenegro under-21 international has not played the required 75% of competitive full international matches for his country in the last two years.
Aberdeen have appealed and their case will now be heard by a SFA panel of football experts on Monday.
Dons manager Mark McGhee said: “It is a bit delicate because it is in the hands of the SFA tribunal.
“We will have to wait and see what happens. We will put forward a good case.”
Aberdeen must prove to a panel of up to eight representatives, including former players, managers, representatives from the SFA, SPL and from the Home Office the player will be a worthy addition.
Aberdeen must show Vuja-dinovic’s arrival will not be detrimental to the progress of any home-grown players in a similar position.
Given the amount of youngsters already in the Dons squad and the lack of a left back, it should not be a problem. Former Partizan Belgrade trainee Vujadinovic signed a five-year contract at Udinese last summer after joining from Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia in a deal worth £800,000.
He spent last season on loan at Romanian team Unirea Alba Iulia.
Vujadinovic has the CV and McGhee believes the Dons have a case.
He said: “We will supply the evidence we believe will be sufficient. Vujadinovic has terrific pedigree, you do not get a five-year contract at a Serie A club unless you have ability.
“It is a position we have struggled to fill because we wanted Grant Basey but were unable to find the funds.”
“We have now been able to do so thanks to the move involving Andrius Velicka and Richard Foster.
“Ideally, I did not want to lose one to gain two but, if that is the case, I can live with it. We have had to be creative because losing Foster left us short at the back.
“Vujadinovic fits the bill. He is very versatile, he is predominantly a left back but he can also play in the centre of defence.
“I did not get to see an awful lot of him last week, but what I did see I was impressed with.
“He showed a good attitude and a willingness to come to Aberdeen.
“Nikola is a big lad with great physique, so I have no doubts he will adapt to the SPL without too many problems.”